Many Washington-area residents are expressing surprise and dismay that a suspect in the murder of a police officer was apparently strangled in his jail cell.

Corrections officers found the unresponsive body of Ronnie White about 10:35 a.m. Sunday morning, just 36 hours after he was arrested and before he even saw a judge.

White, 19, was secured in solitary confinement; guards checked on him every 30 minutes. Corrections officials say White was fine when officers checked on him just 20 minutes before his body was found. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, and said he suffered two broken bones in his voice box, indicating strangulation.

An attorney for White's family expressed outrage at the extra-judicial killing of the suspected cop killer.

"There is a problem when someone can be killed in custody," said Bobby G. Henry. "Nobody has been suspended; nobody has been relieved of duty."

Federal and state investigators have taken over the case. The FBI (web) and justice department will look into whether there was a civil rights violation. Maryland State Police are trying to find out what happened, and have been interviewing the seven corrections officers who had contact with White, along with their supervisors.

Many people who spoke with ABC 7 News reporter Suzanne Kennedy said that what happened was murder, not justice.

"It's not right for law enforcement or anybody else to take the law into their own hands," said Marcus Wigglesworth, a former police officer.

"It's really sad to see something at this day and time people killed or hurt inside the prisons," added Sal Rahim.

"Even if he murdered somebody, it still needs to be investigated thoroughly," said Donna Edwards.

"I think that's atrocious. I think it goes against our justice system in this country," said Irfan Khaliq.

"I think whoever did it, I hope they are brought to justice and I think we got to allow justice and the law enforcement system to work," said Taiwo Inman.

The Maryland chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says it also has concerns about White's death. It says no one has the right to be judge, jury and executioner.